Home Health Center
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Causes
Causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome
A disorder of the immune system, Guillain-Barre syndrome is caused by a faulty immune response; however, it is not known what exactly triggers off the faulty immune response. Most often, the first symptoms of this condition are seen when a person suffers from a respiratory or stomach-related infection. Since the syndrome does not depend on age, gender and race, the triggers are not clearly known.
The medical community believes that the condition is usually triggered after minor infections and in most cases; the symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome only appear after the symptoms of the triggering infection have subsided. It has been recorded that in 1976, the swine flu vaccinations triggered widespread Guillain-Barre syndrome, but this is a rare incident and such an incident has not been recorded since.
Guillain-Barre syndrome usually only affects the coverings of the nerves or the myelin sheath. This causes the nerves to lose their ability to transmit sensations optimally. It causes the signals from nerves to move very slowly. Any further damage to the nerves may cause the nerves to stop functioning completely. This is what eventually causes paralysis. Guillain-Barre syndrome often occurs along with other viral infections like AIDS, herpes simplex and mononucleosis. In rare cases, severe medical conditions like cancer and systematic lupus may also trigger Guillain-Barre syndrome. Some people are also known to have developed the disorder after a recent surgery. Despite all this knowledge, the exact causes of Guillain-Barre Syndrome are not known.